Method and apparatus for transmitting wireless local area network information

ABSTRACT

A method for sending a wireless local area network packet structure is provided, and the method comprises: determining a packet structure, where the packet structure comprises an HE-SIGA and an HE-SIGB, the HE-SIGA comprises an indication information, and if a current transmission mode is a full bandwidth MU-MIMO transmission, the indication information is used to indicate a number of scheduled users, or if the current transmission mode is other transmission mode, the indication information is used to indicate a number of symbols in the HE-SIGB; and sending the packet structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/908,866, filed on Mar. 1, 2018, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2016/097646, filed on Aug. 31, 2016,which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201510555654.5,filed on Sep. 1, 2015, The disclosures of the aforementionedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

With development of the mobile Internet and popularization ofintelligent terminals, data traffic increases rapidly. A wireless localarea network (WLAN) becomes one of mainstream mobile broadband accesstechnologies by virtue of advantages of a high rate and low costs.

To significantly improve a service transmission rate of a WLAN system,the next-generation Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11ax standard further uses an Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (OFDMA) technology on a basis of an existing OrthogonalFrequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology. The OFDMA technologydivides time-frequency resources of a wireless channel of an airinterface into multiple orthogonal time-frequency resource units (RB,Resource Block). The RBs are shared in terms of time and are orthogonalin terms of a frequency field. In 802.11ax, a transmission bandwidthallocated to users is referred to as a resource unit, and therefore, isonly represented by “resource unit” subsequently.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for sendingwireless local area network information, so as to reduce apeak-to-average power ratio.

According to one aspect, a method for sending a wireless local areanetwork packet structure is provided, including:

determining a packet structure, where the packet structure comprises anHE-SIGA and an HE-SIGB, the HE-SIGA comprises indication information,and when a current transmission mode is a full bandwidth MU-MIMOtransmission, the indication information is used to indicate a number ofscheduled users, or when the current transmission mode is othertransmission mode, the indication information is used to indicate anumber of symbols in the HE-SIGB; and

sending the packet structure.

Correspondingly, a method for receiving a wireless local area networkpacket structure is provided, including:

receiving a packet structure, where the packet structure comprises anHE-SIGA and an HE-SIGB, the HE-SIGA comprises indication information,and when a current transmission mode is a full bandwidth MU-MIMOtransmission, the indication information is used to indicate a number ofscheduled users, or when the current transmission mode is othertransmission mode, the indication information is used to indicate anumber of symbols in the HE-SIGB; and

performing processing according to the number of the scheduled users orthe number of the symbols in the HE-SIGB in the packet structure.

According to another aspect, a method for sending a wireless local areanetwork packet structure is provided, including:

determining a packet structure, where the packet structure comprises anHE-SIGB, the HE-SIGB comprises a common field and a user specific field,the common field comprises information for resource unit(s) allocation,and the resource allocation information is used to indicate that thereis no user scheduling information corresponding to a current resourceunit in a subsequent user specific field; and

sending the packet structure.

Correspondingly, a method for receiving a wireless local area networkpacket structure is provided, including:

receiving a packet structure, where the packet structure comprises anHE-SIGB, the HE-SIGB comprises a common field and a user specific field,the common field comprises information for resource unit(s) allocation,and the resource allocation information is used to indicate that thereis no user scheduling information corresponding to a current resourceunit in a subsequent user specific field; and

performing processing according to the information for resource unit(s)allocation included in the packet structure.

According to still another aspect, a method for sending a wireless localarea network packet structure is provided, including: determining apacket structure, where the packet structure comprises an HE-SIGA and anHE-SIGB, and the HE-SIGA comprises information for indicating a numberof pieces of resource unit(s) allocation indication information RAincluded in a common field of the HE-SIGB; and

sending the packet structure.

Correspondingly, a method for receiving a wireless local area networkpacket structure is provided, including: receiving a packet structure,where the packet structure comprises an HE-SIGA and an HE-SIGB, and theHE-SIGA comprises information for indicating a number of pieces ofresource unit(s) allocation indication information RA included in acommon field of the HE-SIGB; and

performing processing according to the information about the number ofpieces of the RA included in the packet structure.

In a next-generation wireless local area network, signaling overheadscan be reduced by using the methods provided in the embodiments of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the presentinvention or in the prior art more clearly, the following brieflydescribes the accompanying drawings required for describing theembodiments or the prior art.

Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description showsome embodiments of the present invention, and a person of ordinaryskill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanyingdrawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a simple schematic diagram of a wireless local area networkaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are tone plans at a 20 MHz bandwidth in an OFDMAtransmission mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are tone plans at different bandwidths in an OFDMAtransmission mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a simple schematic diagram of a data structure of a packetstructure PPDU in a multi-user transmission mode according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a simple schematic diagram of an HE-SIG-A structure in apacket structure PPDU;

FIG. 7 is a possible structure of an HE-SIG-B in a packet structurePPDU;

FIG. 8 is a simple schematic diagram of a possible resource allocationmanner (a common field) in a packet structure PPDU;

FIG. 9 is a simple schematic diagram of another possible resourceallocation manner (a common field) in a packet structure PPDU;

FIG. 10a is a simple schematic diagram of a scheduling informationstructure (user specific field) in a single-user mode;

FIG. 10b is a simple schematic diagram of a scheduling informationstructure (user specific field) in a multi-user mode;

FIG. 11 is a simple schematic diagram of a transmission mode of apreamble part at 80 MHz;

FIG. 12 is a simple schematic diagram of a transmission mode of anHE-SIGB part at 80 MHz;

FIG. 13, FIG. 14, and FIG. 15 each are simple schematic diagrams ofcontent and a transmission mode of an HE-SIGA and an HE-SIGB;

FIG. 16 is a simple schematic diagram of a preferred structure of anHE-SIGA;

FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and FIG. 22 each are simpleschematic diagrams of content and a transmission mode of an HE-SIGA andan HE-SIGB;

FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 each are simple schematic diagrams of a preferredstructure of an HE-SIGA;

FIG. 25, FIG. 26, and FIG. 27 each are simple schematic diagrams ofcontent and a transmission mode of an HE-SIGA and an HE-SIGB;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of an access point according to an embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a station according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following clearly describes the technical solutions in theembodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, thedescribed embodiments are a part rather than all of the embodiments ofthe present invention. All other embodiments obtained by a person ofordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the presentinvention without creative efforts shall fall within the protectionscope of the present invention.

For ease of understanding, terms that possibly appear in the followingembodiments are explained as follows:

STA Station or user AP Access point UL Uplink DL Downlink OFDMOrthogonal frequency division multiplexing OFDMA Orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access MIMO Multiple-input multiple-output IDIdentifier BSS Basic service set OBSS Overlapped basic service setHE-SIGA High efficient signal field A HE-SIGB High efficient signalfield B HE-STF High efficient short training field HE-LTF High efficientlong training field MCS Modulation and coding scheme NSTS Number ofspace-time streams BF Beamforming BCC Binary convolutional code LDPC Lowdensity parity code PER Packet error rate LTE Long Term Evolution WiMaxWorldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access WiFi Wireless FidelityBitmap Bitmap PPDU physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (cited frompage 2 of IEEE 802.11ac-2013, approved 11 Dec. 2013.)

An access point (AP) may also be referred to as a wireless access point,a bridge, a hotspot, or the like, and may access a server or acommunications network.

A station (STA) may also be referred to as a user, and may be a wirelesssensor, a wireless communications terminal, or a mobile terminal, suchas a mobile phone (or referred to as a “cellular” phone) supporting aWiFi communication function and a computer with a wireless communicationfunction. For example, the station may be a portable, pocket-sized,handheld, computer built-in, wearable, or in-vehicle wirelesscommunications apparatus that supports the WiFi communication functionand exchanges communications data such as voice and data with a radioaccess network.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a diagram of a network architecture of awireless local area network, including the foregoing AP 101 and at leastone station STA 102. Various apparatuses in the foregoing system maycomply with a standard protocol of a next-generation wireless local areanetwork, such as 802.11ax.

Possible Resource Unit Sizes in 802.11Ax

In 802.11ax, there are multiple resource unit sizes, including aresource unit size of 26 subcarriers, a resource unit size of 52subcarriers, a resource unit size of 106 subcarriers, a resource unitsize of 242 subcarriers, and the like.

At a 20 MHz bandwidth, a resource unit size is limited to 26, 52, 106,or 242 subcarriers. As shown in FIG. 2a , a resource unit with the sizeof 26 in the center crosses direct current subcarriers, and the directcurrent subcarriers are shown as a small gap in the center of the FIG.2a (subcarrier frequency indexes −1, 0, and 1). The first layer showslocation of 9 resource units with the size of 26. The second layer showlocation of 4 resource units with the size of 52 and 1 resource unitwith the size of 26. The third layer shows location distribution of 2resource units with the size of 106 and 1 resource unit with the size of26. The fourth layer show location of 1 resource unit with the size of242, and the resource unit with the size of 242 is the full 20 MHzbandwidth. A tone allocation of a 20 MHz frequency domain may be acombination of any resource units shown in the four layers, occupying afrequency spectrum of 242 subcarriers. One example is shown in FIG. 2b ,the 20 MHz bandwidth is allocated as four resource units (106+26+52+52).When performing scheduling, the AP can assign only one resource unit toeach user, but may assign a same resource unit to multiple users. Theusers sharing one resource unit transmit data in spatial flowsrespectively, in a MU-MIMO (multi-user multiple-input multiple-output)manner.

At a 40 MHz bandwidth, a resource unit size is limited to 26, 52, 106,242, or 484 subcarriers. As shown in FIG. 3, a small gap shown in thecenter are direct current subcarriers. The first layer shows location of18 resource units with the size of 26. The second layer shows locationof 8 resource units with the size of 52 and 2 resource units with thesize of 26. The third layer shows location of 4 resource units with thesize of 106 and 2 resource units with the size of 26. The fourth layershows location of 2 resource units with the size of 242, and theresource unit with the size of 242 is a 20 MHz bandwidth. The fifthlayer is one resource unit with the size of 484, and the resource unitwith the size of 484 is a full 40 MHz bandwidth. A tone allocation of a40 MHz frequency domain may be a combination of any resource units shownin the five layers, occupying a frequency spectrum of 484 subcarriers,and only one the resource unit can be assigned to each user.

At an 80 MHz bandwidth, a resource unit size is limited to 26, 52, 106,242, 484, or 996 subcarriers. As shown in FIG. 4, a tone allocation ofthe 80 MHz bandwidth is shown in six layers, a resource unit with thesize of 26 in the center crosses direct current subcarriers, and a smallgap in the center is shown as the direct current subcarriers. The firstlayer shows location of 37 resource units with the size of 26. Thesecond layer shows location of 16 resource units with the size of 52 andfive resource units with the size of 26. The third layer shows locationof 8 resource units with the size of 106 and 5 resource units with thesize of 26. The fourth layer shows location of 4 resource units with thesize of 242 and 1 resource unit with the size of 26, and the resourceunit with the size of 242 is a 20 MHz bandwidth. The fifth layer shows 2resource units with the size of 484 and 1 resource unit with the size of26, and the resource unit with the size of 484 is a 40 MHz bandwidth.The sixth layer shows location of one resource unit with the size of996, and the resource unit with the size of 996 is an 80 MHz bandwidth.A tone allocation of a 80 MHz frequency domain may be a combination ofany resource units shown in the five layers, occupying a frequencyspectrum of 996 subcarriers, and only one resource unit can be assignedto each user.

Possible Packet Structure in 802.11Ax

FIG. 5 is a possible packet structure (a packet structure PPDU inmulti-user transmission) in 802.11ax, and shows that the APsimultaneously transmits data to multiple STAs by using multipleresource units in a DL (Downlink, downlink) OFDMA manner. Several STAsmay also share a same resource unit, and transmit data in their spatialflows respectively in the MU-MIMO manner.

The packet structure in 802.11ax firstly comprises: a legacy preamble,that comprises a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy longtraining field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG), to ensurebackward compatibility, so that a STA of an earlier-version standard canreceive and decode the legacy preamble. In addition, a repeated legacysignal field (Repeated L-SIG) is also included, which is used to performautomatic detection for 802.11ax and increase robustness of the L-SIG.An HE-SIG-A (high efficient signal field A) is used to carryinformation, such as a bandwidth and an AP identifier (AP ID, alsoreferred to as BSS Color), that is in a current BSS (basic service set)and OBSS (Overlapped BSS, overlapped basic service set) and that is readby a STA, as shown in FIG. 6. An HE-SIG-B (high efficient signal fieldB) is mainly used to carry resource scheduling information that is in acurrent BSS and that is read by a STA. The following are an HE-STF (highefficient short training field) and an HE-LTF (high efficient longtraining field), which are respectively used to perform AGC (automaticgain control) and channel measurement of MIMO (Multiple Input MultipleOutput,). The HE-LTF field may include multiple HE-LTF symbols, whichare used to perform channel measurement for multiple space-time streams.The last is a Data part, and is used to bear a MAC frame.

Possible Resource Indication Manner (HE-SIGB Content) of DownlinkMulti-User Transmission in 802.11Ax

As shown in FIG. 5, the AP allocates a full bandwidth into multipleresource units, and uses the multiple resource units to trans-ceive datawith multiple STAs. For a STA to determine whether the STA itself is atarget STA and for a target STA to determine a frequency location inwhich data is carried and a physical layer parameter for receiving data,the AP needs to indicate resource scheduling information. For downlinkmulti-user transmission, the HE-SIG-B generally comprises resourcescheduling information of multiple users, to instruct multiple STAs toreceive data. FIG. 7 is a possible structure of an HE-SIG-B, and thestructure comprises a common field (common part) and a user specificfield (dedicated part). The common field comprises some commoninformation that all target STAs need to read, such as indicationinformation of resource unit(s) allocation (Resource allocationSignaling, RA Signaling). The user specific field comprises schedulinginformation for a group of STAs assigned with a same resource unit toread, or scheduling information for each one STA to read.

The indication information of resource allocation in the common fieldmay have multiple possible structures. One relatively high-efficiencymanner is to store, indices for all possible combinations into a table,through storing each index and the corresponding combination of resourceunits. Multiple resource unit sizes are currently defined in 802.11ax,and comprises 26, 52, 106, 242, 484, 996, and the like according to anumber of subcarriers (for details, refer to BACKGROUND 1.1.2). FIG. 8shows all possible combination manners for OFDMA resource units at afull 20 MHz bandwidth. For 20 MHz, a resource unit size may be 26, 52,106, and 242 subcarriers. There are totally 25 allocations, whichcorrespond to 25 indices. Provided that the common part carries ceil(log225)=5 bits, all possible cases of 20 MHz can be carried, where ceilrepresents rounding up. For a case with a full bandwidth being 40 MHz,80 MHz, or 160 MHz, based on the multiple indices, an indication foreach 20 MHz is performed respectively (that is, multiple pieces of RASignaling).

In some other solutions, the OFDMA resource allocation indication alsoindicates a transmission situation of multi-user MIMO (Multiple-userMIMO, MU-MIMO), that is, when data for multiple users are included onone resource unit, the specific number of users is also indicated (asshown in FIG. 9). When a resource unit is sufficiently large, forexample, comprises 106 subcarriers, multi-user transmission is furtherallowed on the resource unit by using MU MIMO. Therefore, a table thatcomprises a more comprehensive allocation manner is proposed in someembodiments, and compared with the former embodiment, requires more bitsfor indication the number of users; wherein resource units marked by 1-8are resource units allowable for MU-MIMO transmission, and indices arerespectively provided for each case with one to eight users in thetable. Referring to FIG. 9, the resource units marked by 1-8 areincluded.

A table may be generated for the resource allocation manner in FIG. 9,also on a basis of 20 MHz. The table comprises an indication of aresource unit with a size greater than 242 (cases marked by dark greenand red) in addition to an indication of a number of users on a resourceunit allowable for MU-MIMO. For a case with a full bandwidth of 40 MHz,80 MHz, or 160 MHz, based on the multiple indices, an indication foreach 20 MHz is performed respectively (that is, multiple pieces of RASignaling).

In the user specific field, each piece of user scheduling informationhas two possible structures, as shown in FIG. 10a and FIG. 10b . Astructure in FIG. 10a represents a scheduling information structure in asingle-user mode. The single-user mode means that a current STAexclusively occupies one resource unit. FIG. 10b represents a schedulinginformation structure in a multi-user mode. The multi-user mode meansthat a current STA does not exclusively occupy one resource unit, andsome other STAs share one resource unit with the current STA in aMU-MIMO manner.

The structure in FIG. 10a comprises: a station identifier (STA ID) or astation partial identifier (STA PAID), a modulation and coding scheme(MCS for short), used to indicate a modulation and coding scheme, anumber of space-time streams (NSTS for short), used to indicate a numberof used space-time streams, a coding manner (Coding), used to indicatewhether an LDPC coding manner is used, space time block coding (STBC forshort), used to indicate whether STBC is used, and beamforming (TxBF),used to indicate whether a beamforming technology is used. In addition,the structure may also include a cyclic redundancy code (CRC for short),used to store a CRC check bit, and a tail bit (Tail), used to store a6-bit tail of a binary convolutional code (Binary Convolution Code, BCCfor short).

The structure in FIG. 10b comprises a station identifier (STAIdentifier, STA ID) or a station partial identifier (STA PAID), amodulation and coding scheme (MCS for short), used to indicate amodulation and coding scheme, a location of the first space-time stream(first Stream index), used to indicate a sequence number of the usedfirst space-time stream (because a STA only transmits data in aspace-time stream in which the STA is located, a start location of thespace-time stream of the STA needs to be learned), a number ofspace-time streams (NSTS for short), used to indicate a number of usedspace-time streams, and a coding manner (Coding), used to indicatewhether an LDPC coding manner is used. In addition, the structure mayalso include a cyclic redundancy code (CRC for short), used to store aCRC check bit, and a tail bit (Tail), used to store a 6-bit tail of abinary convolutional code (BCC for short).

HE-SIGB Structure

When a transmission bandwidth is greater than 20 MHz, a preamble partneeds to be transmitted over each 20 MHz. Parts comprising the legacypreamble, the repeated L-SIG, and the high efficient signal field A areduplicated and transmitted over each 20 MHz. The high efficient signalfield B part uses a partial duplication mode. Transmission over 80 MHzis used as an example. A transmission mode of the preamble part isspecifically shown in FIG. 11.

It may be seen that, as shown in FIG. 12, the HE-SIGB carries differentcontent at an odd-numbered 20 MHz and at an even-numbered 20 MHz, butcarries same content at each odd-numbered 20 MHz (a first 20 MHz and athird 20 MHz) and carries same content at each even-numbered 20 MHz (asecond 20 MHz and a fourth 20 MHz). An HE-SIGB at an odd-numbered 20 MHzis denoted as SIGB-1, and an HE-SIGB at an even-numbered 20 MHz isdenoted as SIGB-2. For content included in the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2,refer to an introduction in BACKGROUND 1.1.4, comprises a common fieldand a user specific field. The SIGB-1 comprises indication informationof resource allocation (RA signaling) over the first 20 MHz sub-channeland the third 20 MHz sub-channel and user scheduling information for thetransmission over the first and the third 20 MHz sub-channel. The SIGB-2comprises indication information of resource allocation (RA signaling)over the second 20 MHz sub-channel and the fourth 20 MHz sub-channel anduser scheduling information for the transmission over the second and thefourth 20 MHz sub-channel. For a 20 MHz bandwidth transmission, only oneHE-SIGB (SIGB-1) is comprised. For a 40 MHz bandwidth transmission,SIGB-1 and SIGB-2 are comprised, but both the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2comprises a resource allocation indication and user schedulinginformation over only one 20 MHz sub-channel. The SIGB-1 comprises aresource allocation indication and user scheduling information over thefirst 20 MHz (an odd-numbered 20 MHz), and the SIGB-2 comprises aresource allocation mode indication and user scheduling information overthe second 20 MHz (an even-numbered 20 MHz).

In general, some solutions are needed to reduce overheads of the HE-SIGAor the HE-SIGB further.

Preferred Embodiment 1

In Preferred Embodiment 1, a part of an HE-SIGA field may be reused.Further, an indication of a number of users in the common field of theHE-SIGB may be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, generally, in an HE-SIGA structure, “#sym HE-SIGB”field is used to indicate a number of symbols in the HE-SIGB.

In Preferred Embodiment 1, when a current transmission mode is fullbandwidth MU-MIMO or single-user transmission, “#sym HE-SIGB” field isused to indicate a number of currently scheduled users, and is no longerused to indicate the number of the symbols in the HE-SIGB. In this case,an common field of the HE-SIGB may not include information forindicating the number of the currently scheduled users. This can reducesome overheads.

In this solution, the HE-SIGA comprises an indication of MCS of theHE-SIGB, besides the “#sym HE-SIGB” field indicating the number of thecurrently scheduled users. In this way, when needed, the number of thesymbols in the HE-SIGB may also be calculated out on a sending side or areceiving side according to the number of the currently scheduled users.For brevity, reusing the field “#sym HE-SIGB” field does not cause aloss of related information.

Specifically, a bit overhead of each piece of user schedulinginformation is fixed, therefore, when obtaining a “#sym HE-SIGB”indicating the number of the scheduled users, a receive end is capableto obtain a total bit overhead of the user scheduling information field.With reference to the MCS of HE-SIGB indicated in the HE-SIGA, thereceive end is capable to obtain a number of HE-SIGB symbols occupied bythe total user scheduling information field, and further accuratelyobtain a location in which the HE-SIGB ends.

Referring to FIG. 13, FIG. 13 is a preferred structure of an HE-SIGA/Bin this embodiment.

The HE-SIGA comprises an indication for a non-OFDMA transmission and anindication for the number of scheduled users. The HE-SIGB may notinclude information for resource unit(s) allocation and may not includeinformation about the number of the users.

It should be noted that Preferred Embodiment 1 is a special case forcurrent transmission, that is, the current transmission is a fullbandwidth MU-MIMO or a single-user transmission mode; or, it is a casethat resource allocation indication information in a common field of acurrent HE-SIGB may be omitted. Specifically, for how to obtain that thecurrent transmission is a special case, a method in which the HE-SIGAcomprises a transmission mode indication may be used, or, other possibleimplementation methods may also be used, such as Preferred Embodiment 3or 5 in the present invention. The transmission mode indication is usedto indicate that the current transmission is an OFDMA transmission modeor a non-OFDMA transmission mode. The non-OFDMA transmission mode is afull bandwidth MU-MIMO, or a single-user transmission.

Specifically, in a full bandwidth MU-MIMO or a single-user transmission,the number of all users does not exceed eight. Therefore, this preferredembodiment has following examples.

Example 1: The “#sym HE-SIGB” field occupies 4 bits. A first two bitsmay be used to indicate the number of scheduled users in the SIGB-1, andthe last two bits may be used to indicate the number of scheduled userin the SIGB-2. That is, the field may indicate the number of the userfields comprised in a user specific field of each SIGB. Referring to theforegoing introduction of the HE-SIGB (SIGB-1 and SIGB-2), the foregoingindication manner may be applicable to a case with a bandwidth greaterthan 20 MHz.

Example 2: Alternatively, all or partial bits of the “#sym HE-SIGB”field may be used to indicate a total number of scheduled users includedin the HE-SIGB. Certainly, a number of bits occupied by the “#symHE-SIGB” field is not limited to 4, and for example, may be 3. Theforegoing method may be applicable to various cases of differentbandwidths.

Example 3: Alternatively, all or partial bits of the “#sym HE-SIGB”field may be used to indicate the greater one, of the number ofscheduled users in the SIGB-1, and the number of scheduled users in theSIGB-2. The foregoing method may be applicable to various cases ofdifferent bandwidths.

Preferred Embodiment 2

In Preferred Embodiment 2, a method is proposed and comprises a type ofspecial information for resource unit(s) allocation (that is, specialResource Allocation, RA). The special RA is used to indicate that thereis no corresponding user scheduling information field in a subsequentuser specific field. An indication of the special RA may be plausiblyunderstood as that the number of users scheduled on a current resourceunit is zero, or, the current transmission is in an invalid resourceallocation mode.

After obtaining the indication of the special resource allocation mode,a receive end accordingly obtains that for this 20 MHz subchannel, nouser scheduling information fields exist in a user specific fieldcorresponding to this 20 MHz subchannel. In this case, the receive endmay ignore this resource allocation mode indication information.

FIG. 14 is used as an example for specific description. RA-1 indicatesthat no user scheduling information corresponding to RA-1 exists in asubsequent user specific field. It may be understood as indicating anauthentic or a fake resource allocation mode. For example, a currentresource unit is a resource unit of 40 MHz or a resource unit of 20 MHz,and the resource unit is assigned to “0” user. This RA-1 may beunderstood as an invalid resource allocation mode, and there is nosubsequent user scheduling information field that corresponds to theRA-1. The receive end may directly ignore indication information of thisinvalid resource allocation mode. RA-2 comprises an authentic resourceallocation mode, that is, a resource unit with a size of 484 is assignedfor 4 users MU-MIMO transmission. In this way, the SIGB-1 only comprises6 pieces of user scheduling information field for the third 20 MHzsubchannel, and the SIGB-2 comprises 6 pieces of user schedulinginformation field for the second (together with the first) 20 MHzsubchannel and the fourth 20 MHz subchannel. Compared with FIG. 15, theHE-SIGB in FIG. 14 reduces overheads of user scheduling informationfield in length.

The following describes an effect of the foregoing preferred embodimentby comparison with an example in FIG. 15. In the example, similarly, theAP assigns a 40 MHz subchannel (a 484 resource unit) for 4 users MU-MIMOtransmission, assigns a 20 MHz subchannel (resource units with52+26+26+26+26+26) for 6 users OFDMA transmission, and assigns a 20 MHzsubchannel (a 242 resource unit) for 2 users MU-MIMO transmission.Referring to the RA indication method shown in the FIG. 9, if thispreferred embodiment is not used, it may be obtained that RA-1 indicatesthat a 484 resource unit (40 MHz) is in use over the first 20 MHz, towhich n1 users are assigned; RA-2 indicates that a 484 resource unit (40MHz) is in use over the second 20 MHz, to which n2 users are assigned;RA-1/2 indicates the same resource unit with the size of 484 (40 MHz),and the number of users indicated in the RAs is n1+n2=4. The four usersis assigned to use the resource unit with the size of 484, that is, two20 MHz. Therefore, scheduling information of the 4 users may beconsidered as belonging to either 20 MHz subfield. RA-3 indicates thatthe third 20 MHz is allocated into six resource units, that is, resourceunits respectively with sizes of 52, 26, 26, 26, 26, and 26. Eachresource unit is to be used by 1 user, and there are 6 users totally.RA-4 indicates that a resource unit with a size of 242 (20 MHz) is inuse over the fourth 20 MHz, and 2 users are assigned.

In FIG. 15, because the RA indication does not include a case with zerousers, the number n1 of users indicated by RA-1 and the number n2 ofusers indicated by RA-2 are at least greater than or equal to 1. In thisway, at least one piece of user scheduling information, corresponding toRA-1 or RA-2, needs to be comprised in a user specific field. However,since there are 6 users scheduled on the third 20 MHz, SIGB-1 alreadynecessarily comprises 6 pieces of user scheduling information field overthe third 20 MHz; while an accumulative number of users over the first,the second, and the fourth 20 MHz is also 6. Consequently, by using thepreferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the SIGB-1 only comprisesscheduling information for the 6 users over the third 20 MHz, and theSIGB-2 comprises scheduling information for the remaining 6 users. Inthis way, a number of overall symbols in the HE-SIGB is smallest.

Further, the indication of the foregoing special resource allocationmode may use various possible specific indication methods.

For example, an RA indication uses the above-mentioned manner ofperforming an index indication according to a stored table. Such a tableof resource allocation mode comprises one type of such a specialresource allocation mode. An index corresponding to the above mode istransmitted to indicate that the current transmission is a specialresource allocation mode. The index of the special mode may be an unusedindex.

For another example, for an RA indication that does not use a storagetable manner, specifically, a special combination of resource indicationbits, or one of the bits, may be used to indicate the foregoing specialresource allocation mode.

Preferred Embodiment 3

In this preferred embodiment, the HE-SIGA comprises information forindicating a number of pieces of RA included in the common field of theHE-SIGB. Referring to FIG. 16, FIG. 16 is a simple schematic diagram ofa preferred structure of the HE-SIGA.

After receiving the RA quantity indication information in the HE-SIGA, areceive end may obtain lengths of the common fields of the SIGB-1 andSIGB-2 according to the RA quantity indication information, and further,correctly decode the common fields of the SIGB-1 and SIGB-2.

With the information about the number of pieces of RA, an indication ofa current transmission mode may be not included. In other words, theinformation about the number of pieces of RA may be used to indicate thecurrent transmission mode. In other words, when a number of pieces of RAincluded in the HE-SIGA is zero, it indicates that the currenttransmission mode is a non-OFDMA transmission mode, that is, Fullbandwidth MU-MIMO or single-user transmission. When the number of piecesof RA is greater than zero, and for example, is one or two, it indicatesthat the current transmission mode is an OFDMA transmission mode.

Referring to FIG. 17, FIG. 17 is a simple schematic diagram of astructure of the HE-SIGA/B indicated in Preferred Embodiment 3.

Referring to FIG. 18, FIG. 18 is a simple schematic diagram of anotherstructure of the HE-SIGA/B indicated in Preferred Embodiment 3. Comparedwith a case in FIG. 19, it is obviously seen that signaling is reduced.In addition, because full 80 MHz is divided into two resource units witha size of 484 (40 MHz), mode indication information in the HE-SIGA isOFDMA, that is, the common fields of the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2 need toinclude RA-1/3 and RA-2/4 according to a normal structure. The solutionin FIG. 18 indicates that the number of pieces of RA included in theSIGB is one, the SIGB-1 only comprises RA-1, and the SIGB-2 onlycomprises RA-4. Therefore, the receive end may obtain allocationinformation of the current bandwidth.

Referring to FIG. 20, FIG. 20 is another structure of the HE-SIGA/Bindicated in Preferred Embodiment 3. A resource unit(s) allocationsituation in this embodiment is consistent with a resource unit(s)allocation situation indicated in the foregoing FIG. 14.

Preferably, the indication of “the number of pieces of RA included inthe common field of the HE-SIGB” may occupy different quantities of bitsat different bandwidths.

For example, when a current transmission bandwidth is 20 MHz or 40 MHz,the indication occupies one bit. Because the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2include only one piece of RA at most, the number of pieces of RAincluded in the common field falls into only two cases: zero and one.

For example, when a current transmission bandwidth is 80 MHz, theindication occupies two bits. Because the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2 mayinclude two pieces of RA at most, the number of pieces of RA included inthe common field may fall into three cases: zero, one, and two.

For example, when a current transmission bandwidth is 160 MHz, theindication occupies three bits. Because the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2 mayinclude four pieces of RA at most, the number of pieces of RA includedin the common field may fall into five cases: zero, one, two, three, andfour.

For another example, when a transmission bandwidth is 80 MHz, two bitsare used to indicate the number of pieces of RA included in the SIGB-1,and the number of pieces of RA may fall into four cases: zero, one, two,and three.

For another example, when a transmission bandwidth is 160 MHz, threebits are used to indicate the number of pieces of RA included in theSIGB-1, and the number of pieces of RA may fall into eight cases: zero,one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven.

More specifically, refer to FIG. 21 for the case in which the commonfield of the HE-SIGB comprises only two pieces of RA at 160 MHz.

Another possible structure is shown in FIG. 22.

Preferred Embodiment 3 may be combined with either of PreferredEmbodiment 1 and Preferred Embodiment 2. For example, if the number ofpieces of RA indicated in Preferred Embodiment 3 is zero, reuse of the“#sym HE-SIGB” field in the SIGA in Preferred Embodiment 1 may beadopted to indicate a number of scheduled users included in the userspecific field of the HE-SIGB. For another example, if the number ofpieces of RA indicated in Preferred Embodiment 3 is two, RA-1 may bemade a special resource allocation mode according to a specificscheduling situation, so that the dedicated user field of the HE-SIGBhas least overheads.

Specially and alternatively, for Preferred Embodiment 3, the quantitiesof pieces of RA included in the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2 may be separatelyindicated in the HE-SIGA, as shown in FIG. 23. In this case, the SIGB-1and the SIGB-2 may be different in length because the quantities ofpieces of RA included may be different.

Specially and alternatively, for Preferred Embodiment 3, the number ofpieces of RA included in the SIGB-1 or the SIGB-2 is indicated in theHE-SIGA, as shown in FIG. 24. If the number of pieces of RA included inthe SIGB-1 is indicated, the number of pieces of RA included in theSIGB-2 equals a total quantity of pieces of RA at a current transmissionbandwidth subtracted by the number of pieces of RA included in theSIGB-1. In this case, the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2 may be different inlength because the quantities of pieces of RA included may be different.

The foregoing embodiments reduce signaling overheads in the SIGB to someextent.

Preferred Embodiment 4

In this preferred embodiment, referring to FIG. 25, the HE-SIGBcomprises information used for indicating a 20 MHz whose resourceallocation information and user scheduling information are currentlyindicated in SIGB-1. The foregoing indication may use a bitmap manner.Each bit corresponds to one 20 MHz in a current transmission bandwidth,and each bit is used to indicate whether user scheduling information ofthe corresponding 20 MHz is included in a current SIGB.

Preferably, referring to FIG. 26, with reference to the indication inthe HE-SIGA in Preferred Embodiment 3, FIG. 26 is an example of applyingPreferred Embodiment 4. It may be seen that, in the example in FIG. 26,the common fields of the SIGB-1 and SIGB-2 separately include a 4-bitbitmap indication. Because there are four 20 MHz in 80 MHz, and each bitcorresponds to one 20 MHz, the bit is used to indicate whether userscheduling information of the corresponding 20 MHz is included in thecurrent SIGB. For example, when an indication of the bit in the bitmapis 1, it indicates that user scheduling information of the 20 MHzcorresponding to the bit is included in the current SIGB; when theindication of the bit in the bitmap is 0, it indicates that the userscheduling information of the 20 MHz corresponding to the bit is notincluded in the current SIGB. Certainly, this also works when meaningsof values 0 and 1 are reversed.

It may also be seen that, by using the method in Preferred Embodiment 4,the SIGB-1 and the SIGB-2 may no longer use the following manner: Userscheduling information of odd-numbered 20 MHz is in the SIGB-1, and userscheduling information of even-numbered 20 MHz is in the SIGB-2.

Certainly, preferably, the user scheduling information of theodd-numbered 20 MHz may be included in the SIGB-1 and the userscheduling information of the even-numbered 20 MHz may be included inthe SIGB-2. In this case, a bitmap in the common field of the HE-SIGBmay have relatively few bits. For example, in an 80 MHz case, the SIGB-1comprises two RA indications (RA at the first 20 MHz and the third 20MHz) at most. Therefore, a 2-bit bitmap is sufficient, and the two bitsrespectively represent the first and the third 20 MHz in the SIGB-1, andrespectively represent the second and the fourth 20 MHz in the SIGB-2.

For 160 MHz transmission, because there are eight 20 MHz, the bitmap haseight bits, and each bit corresponds to one 20 MHz. If it is stillensured that the SIGB-1 comprises indication information of theodd-numbered 20 MHz and the SIGB-2 comprises indication information ofthe even-numbered 20 MHz, only a 4-bit bitmap is required for the 160MHz. It may be seen that, a length of the bitmap depends on a bandwidthindication in the HE-SIG-A.

A receive end receives an indication of the bitmap, as shown in FIG. 26.If “1100” is read from the SIGB-1, it indicates that user schedulinginformation of the first and the second 20 MHz channels is transmittedin the SIGB-1; if “0011” is read from the SIGB-2, it indicates that userscheduling information of the third and the fourth 20 MHz channels istransmitted in the SIGB-2.

Preferred Embodiment 5

In Preferred Embodiment 5, the HE-SIGA comprises SIGB mode indicationinformation. The SIGB mode indication information is used to indicate anindication information type included in the HE-SIGB or is used toindicate an indication information combination in the common field ofthe HE-SIGB. The indication information type included in the HE-SIGB hasthe following example: The common field of the HE-SIGB comprises aresource allocation mode indication, or an indication of a number ofscheduled users and a resource allocation mode indication, or twoindications of quantities of scheduled users, or two resource allocationmode indications, or the like.

The SIGB mode indication information in Preferred Embodiment 5 may beincluded in a new field in the HE-SIGA, and may also be implicitlycarried by using a polarity of the repeated L-SIG, or phase rotation ofthe HE-SIGA, or another manner.

As shown in FIG. 27, FIG. 27 is a simple schematic diagram of astructure of the HE-SIGA/B indicated in Preferred Embodiment 5.

Specifically, it is assumed that an indication of a number of users(user number) requires x1 bits, and an indication of a number of piecesof RA requires x2 bits. Therefore, the common field of the HE-SIGB has ypossible different combination lengths, and an overhead of the foregoingSIGB mode indication is ceil(log 2 (y)).

Example

For a 20 MHz bandwidth, y equals 2 (a common field length equals 0, orthe common field length equals x2) or y equals 2 (the common fieldlength equals x1, or the common field length equals x2). Herein, thecommon field length equals 0, and this considers reference to thetechnology in Preferred Embodiment 1, and arranges an indication of thenumber of users in the “#sym HE-SIGB” field in the SIGA.

When y equals 2, the SIGB mode indication occupies one bit. When themode indication is a first value, the common field length equals 0 orx1, indicating that the current 20 MHz is used as a large resource unitin whole and is allocated to a group of users for MU-MIMO/SUtransmission. When the mode indication is a second value, the commonfield length equals x2, indicating that the current 20 MHz is dividedinto multiple small resource units.

For a 40 MHz bandwidth, y equals 2 (a common field length equals 0, orthe common field length equals x2) or y equals 2 (the common fieldlength equals x1, or the common field length equals x2). Herein, thecommon field length equals 0, and this considers reference to thetechnology in Preferred Embodiment 1, and arranges an indication of thenumber of users in the “#sym HE-SIGB” field in the SIGA. When y equals2, only one bit is required for the mode indication. When the modeindication is a first value, the common field length equals 0 or x1,indicating that the current 40 MHz is used as a large resource unit inwhole and is allocated to a group of users for MU-MIMO/SU transmission.When the mode indication is a second value, another case is indicatedand the corresponding common field length equals x2.

For an 80 MHz bandwidth, y equals 5 (including following several cases:a common field length equals 0, the common field length equals x2+x2,the common field length equals x1+x2, the common field length equalsx2+x1, or the common field length equals x1+x1) or (the common fieldlength equals x1, the common field length equals x2+x2, the common fieldlength equals x1+x2, the common field length equals x2+x1, or the commonfield length equals x1+x1). When y equals 5, three bits are required forthe mode indication. When the mode indication is a first value, thecommon field length equals 0 or x1, indicating that the current 80 MHzis used as a large resource unit in whole and is allocated to a group ofusers for MU-MIMO transmission. When the mode indication is a secondvalue, the common field length equals x1+x1, indicating that the current80 MHz is divided into two 40 MHz resource units, and each 40 MHzresource unit is allocated to a group of users for MU-MIMO/SUtransmission. When the mode indication is a third value, the commonfield length equals x1+x2, indicating that the first 40 MHz of thecurrent 80 MHz is used as one large resource unit and is allocated to agroup of users for MU-MIMO/SU transmission. When the mode indication isa fourth value, the common field length equals x2+x1, indicating thatthe last 40 MHz of the current 80 MHz is used as one large resource unitand is allocated to a group of users for MU-MIMO/SU transmission. Whenthe mode indication is a fifth value, another case is indicated and thecorresponding common field length equals x2+x2. For example, each 20 MHzis used for MU-MIMO transmission, or partial 20 MHz is used for MU-MIMOtransmission and partial 20 MHz is used for OFDMA transmission, or thelike. A case shown in FIG. 27 is a case that the common field length isx1+x2.

The foregoing several cases of the common field length that areseparated by a comma in the brackets, for example, y equals 2 (thecommon field length equals 0, or the common field length equals x2),indicate that the common field of the HE-SIGB has two possible differentcombination lengths, and one is that the common field length is 0, andthe other is that the common field length is x2. Other similar parts arenot repeatedly described.

It should be noted that, in Preferred Embodiment 5, the HE-SIGA mayinclude an indication about whether a current transmission mode is OFDMAor a non-OFDMA transmission mode. In this case, the mode indication inPreferred Embodiment 5 only needs an indication overhead of ceil(log 2(y−1)) bits.

Correspondingly, another embodiment provides an apparatus for processinga wireless local area network packet structure (not shown), and theapparatus is applied to a wireless local area network that uses theOFDMA technology, comprises a processing unit, and is configured toexecute the methods of the foregoing embodiments. For a structure andcontent of a specific frame, refer to the foregoing embodiments anddetails are not described herein. The processing unit may be a generalpurpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specificintegrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or anotherprogrammable logic device, a discrete gate or a transistor logic device,or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute variousmethods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments ofthe present invention. The general purpose processor may be amicroprocessor, any conventional processor, or the like. The steps ofthe method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of the presentinvention may be directly performed by a hardware processor, or may beperformed by using a combination of hardware in the processor and asoftware module. It may be easily understood that, the foregoingprocessing apparatus of an HE-LTF may be located in an access point or astation.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of an access point according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. The access point in FIG. 28comprises an interface 101, a processing unit 102, and a memory 103. Theprocessing unit 102 controls an operation of the access point 100. Thememory 103 may include a read-only memory and a random access memory,and provides an instruction and data for the processing unit 102. A partof the memory 103 may further include a nonvolatile random access memory(NVRAM). All components of the access point 100 are coupled together byusing a bus system 109, and in addition to a data bus, the bus system109 further comprises a power bus, a control bus, and a status signalbus. However, for clarity of description, various buses are marked asthe bus system 109 in FIG. 15.

The methods for sending the foregoing various frames disclosed in theforegoing embodiments of the present invention may be applied to theprocessing unit 102, or implemented by the processing unit 102. In animplementation process, each step of the foregoing methods may becompleted by means of an integrated logic circuit of hardware in theprocessing unit 102 or an instruction in a software form. The processingunit 102 may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor,an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gatearray or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or atransistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and mayimplement or execute various methods, steps, and logic block diagramsdisclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The generalpurpose processor may be a microprocessor, any conventional processor,or the like. The steps of the method disclosed with reference to theembodiments of the present invention may be directly performed by ahardware processor, or may be performed by using a combination ofhardware in the processor and a software module. The software module maybe located in a mature storage medium in the field, such as a randomaccess memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmableread-only memory, an electrically-erasable programmable memory, or aregister. The storage medium is located in the memory 103. Theprocessing unit 102 reads information in the memory 103, and completesthe steps of the foregoing methods with reference to the hardware of theprocessing unit 102.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a station according to another embodimentof the present invention. The station comprises an interface 111, aprocessing unit 112, and a memory 113. The processing unit 112 controlsan operation of the station 110. The memory 113 may include a read-onlymemory and a random access memory, and provides an instruction and datafor the processing unit 112. A part of the memory 113 may furtherinclude a nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM). All components ofthe station 110 are coupled together by using a bus system 119, and inaddition to a data bus, the bus system 119 further comprises a powerbus, a control bus, and a status signal bus. However, for clarity ofdescription, various buses are marked as the bus system 119 in FIG. 16.

The methods for receiving the foregoing various frames disclosed in theforegoing embodiments of the present invention may be applied to theprocessing unit 112, or implemented by the processing unit 112. In animplementation process, each step of the foregoing methods may becompleted by means of an integrated logic circuit of hardware in theprocessing unit 112 or an instruction in a software form. The processingunit 112 may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor,an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gatearray or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or atransistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and mayimplement or execute various methods, steps, and logic block diagramsdisclosed in this embodiment of the present invention. The generalpurpose processor may be a microprocessor, any conventional processor,or the like. The steps of the method disclosed with reference to theembodiments of the present invention may be directly performed by ahardware processor, or may be performed by using a combination ofhardware in the processor and a software module. The software module maybe located in a mature storage medium in the field, such as a randomaccess memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmableread-only memory, an electrically-erasable programmable memory, or aregister. The storage medium is located in the memory 113. Theprocessing unit 112 reads information in the memory 113, and completesthe steps of the foregoing methods with reference to the hardware of theprocessing unit 112.

Specifically, the memory 113 stores received information that enablesthe processing unit 112 to execute the methods mentioned in theforegoing embodiments.

It should be understood that “an embodiment” or “an embodiment”mentioned in the whole specification does not mean that particularfeatures, structures, or characteristics related to the embodiment areincluded in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore,“in an embodiment” or “in an embodiment” appearing throughout thespecification does not refer to a same embodiment. In addition, theseparticular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inone or more embodiments by using any appropriate manner. Sequencenumbers of the foregoing processes do not mean execution sequences invarious embodiments of the present invention. The execution sequences ofthe processes should be determined according to functions and internallogic of the processes, and should not be construed as any limitation onthe implementation processes of the embodiments of the presentinvention.

In addition, the terms “system” and “network” may be usedinterchangeably in this specification. The term “and/or” in thisspecification describes only an association relationship for describingassociated objects and represents that three relationships may exist.For example, A and/or B may represent the following three cases: Only Aexists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, thecharacter “/” in this specification generally indicates an “or”relationship between the associated objects.

It should be understood that in the embodiments of the presentinvention, “B corresponding to A” indicates that B is associated with A,and B may be determined according to A. However, it should further beunderstood that determining A according to B does not mean that B isdetermined according to A only; that is, B may also be determinedaccording to A and/or other information.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combinationwith the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in thisspecification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented byelectronic hardware, computer software, or a combination thereof. Toclearly describe the interchangeability between the hardware and thesoftware, the foregoing has generally described compositions and stepsof each example according to functions. Whether the functions areperformed by hardware or software depends on particular applications anddesign constraint conditions of the technical solutions. A personskilled in the art may use different methods to implement the describedfunctions for each particular application, but it should not beconsidered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of the presentinvention.

It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that, forthe purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed workingprocess of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, reference may bemade to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, anddetails are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, itshould be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and methodmay be implemented in other manners. For example, the describedapparatus embodiment is only an example. For example, the unit divisionis only logical function division and may be other division in actualimplementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may becombined or integrated into another system, or some features may beignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutualcouplings or direct couplings or communication connections may beimplemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings orcommunication connections between the apparatuses or units may beimplemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physicallyseparate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units,may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality ofnetwork units. A part or all of the units may be selected according toactual needs to achieve the objectives of the solutions of theembodiments of the present invention.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the presentinvention may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of theunits may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integratedinto one unit. The integrated unit may be implemented in a form ofhardware, or may be implemented in a form of a software functional unit.

With descriptions of the foregoing embodiments, a person skilled in theart may clearly understand that the present invention may be implementedby hardware, firmware or a combination thereof. When the presentinvention is implemented by software, the foregoing functions may bestored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or moreinstructions or code in the computer-readable medium. Thecomputer-readable medium comprises a computer storage medium and acommunications medium, where the communications medium comprises anymedium that enables a computer program to be transmitted from one placeto another. The storage medium may be any available medium accessible toa computer. The following provides an example but does not impose alimitation: The computer-readable medium may include a RAM, a ROM, anEEPROM, a CD-ROM, or another optical disc storage or disk storagemedium, or another magnetic storage device, or any other medium that cancarry or store expected program code in a form of an instruction or adata structure and can be accessed by a computer. In addition, anyconnection may be appropriately defined as a computer-readable medium.For example, if software is transmitted from a website, a server oranother remote source by using a coaxial cable, an optical fiber/cable,a twisted pair, a digital STA line (DSL) or wireless technologies suchas infrared ray, radio and microwave, the coaxial cable, opticalfiber/cable, twisted pair, DSL or wireless technologies such as infraredray, radio and microwave are included in fixation of a medium to whichthey belong. For example, a disk (Disk) and disc (disc) used by thepresent invention comprises a compact disc CD, a laser disc, an opticaldisc, a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk and a Blu-ray disc,where the disk generally copies data by a magnetic means, and the disccopies data optically by a laser means. The foregoing combination shouldalso be included in the protection scope of the computer-readablemedium.

In summary, what is described above is only example embodiments of thetechnical solutions of the present invention, but is not intended tolimit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modification,equivalent replacement, or improvement made without departing from theprinciple of the present invention shall fall within the protectionscope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting a packet structure in awireless local area network, comprising: constructing a packetstructure, wherein the packet structure comprises a High EfficientSignal Field B (HE-SIGB), wherein the HE-SIGB comprises a first HE-SIGBcontent which is carried at each odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel, and asecond HE-SIGB content which is carried at each even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channel; wherein the first HE-SIGB content comprises a first commonfield and a first user specific field; wherein the first common fieldcomprises one or more first resource allocations (RA), and each of thefirst RAs indicates one or more resource units which are allocated inone odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel; wherein the first user specificfield comprises one or more first user scheduling information subfields,each of the one or more first user scheduling information subfieldscomprises information of one station (STA), wherein the STA is scheduledon one of the one or more resource units which are indicated by the oneor more first RAs; wherein the second HE-SIGB content comprises a secondcommon field and a second user specific field; wherein the second commonfield comprises one or more second resource allocations (RA), and eachof the second RAs indicates one or more resource units which areallocated in one even-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel; wherein the seconduser specific field comprises one or more second user schedulinginformation subfields, each of the one or more second user schedulinginformation subfields comprises information of one STA, wherein the STAis scheduled on one of the one or more resource units which areindicated by the one or more second RAs; wherein one of the one or morefirst RA subfields indicates a specific resource unit and indicates thata number of one or more first user scheduling information subfields isn1; wherein one of the one or more second RA indicates the same specificresource unit and indicates that a number of one or more second userscheduling information subfields is n2; and wherein a number of the STAsscheduled on the same specific resource unit is the sum of n1 and n2;transmitting the packet structure.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the same specific resource unit is a resource unit with a sizeof 484 subcarriers.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein n1comprises one value from integers 0 to 8; n2 comprises one value fromintegers 0 to
 8. 4. The method according to claim 1, by setting n1 andn2, a number of symbols in the HE-SIGB is smallest.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a bandwidth for transmitting the packetstructure is 40 MHz, 80 MHz or 160 MHz, wherein, in the 40 MHz bandwidthtransmission, the odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel is the first 20 MHzchannel, the even-numbered 20 MHz channel is the second 20 MHz channel;in the 80 MHz bandwidth transmission, the odd-numbered 20 MHzsub-channels are the first 20 MHz and the third 20 MHz sub-channels, theeven-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are the second 20 MHz and the fourth20 MHz sub-channel; in the 160 MHz bandwidth transmission, theodd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are the first 20 MHz, the third 20 MHz,the fifth and the seventh 20 MHz sub-channels, the even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channels are the second 20 MHz, the fourth 20 MHz, the sixth and theeighth 20 MHz sub-channel.
 6. A method for receiving a packet structurein a wireless local area network, comprising: receiving a packetstructure, wherein the packet structure comprises a High EfficientSignal Field B (HE-SIGB), wherein the HE-SIGB comprises a first HE-SIGBcontent which is carried at each odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel, and asecond HE-SIGB content which is carried at each even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channel; wherein the first HE-SIGB content comprises a first commonfield and a first user specific field; wherein the first common fieldcomprises one or more first resource allocations (RA), and each of thefirst RAs indicates one or more resource units which are allocated inone odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel; wherein the first user specificfield comprises one or more first user scheduling information subfields,each of the one or more first user scheduling information subfieldscomprises information of one station (STA), wherein the STA is scheduledon one of the one or more resource units which are indicated by the oneor more first RAs; wherein the second HE-SIGB content comprises a secondcommon field and a second user specific field; wherein the second commonfield comprises one or more second resource allocations (RA), and eachof the second RAs indicates one or more resource units which areallocated in one even-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel; wherein the seconduser specific field comprises one or more second user schedulinginformation subfields, each of the one or more second user schedulinginformation subfields comprises information of one STA, wherein the STAis scheduled on one of the one or more resource units which areindicated by the one or more second RAs; wherein one of the one or morefirst RA subfields indicates a specific resource unit and indicates thata number of one or more first user scheduling information subfields isn1; wherein one of the one or more second RA indicates the same specificresource unit and indicates that a number of one or more second userscheduling information subfields is n2; and wherein a number of the STAsscheduled on the same specific resource unit is the sum of n1 and n2;processing the packet structure.
 7. The method according to claim 6,wherein the same specific resource unit is a resource unit with a sizeof 484 subcarriers.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein n1comprises one value from integers 0 to 8; n2 comprises one value fromintegers 0 to
 8. 9. The method according to claim 6, by setting n1 andn2, a number of symbols in the HE-SIGB is smallest.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein a bandwidth for transmitting the packetstructure is 40 MHz, 80 MHz or 160 MHz, wherein, in the 40 MHz bandwidthtransmission, the odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel is the first 20 MHzchannel, the even-numbered 20 MHz channel is the second 20 MHz channel;in the 80 MHz bandwidth transmission, the odd-numbered 20 MHzsub-channels are the first 20 MHz and the third 20 MHz sub-channels, theeven-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are the second 20 MHz and the fourth20 MHz sub-channel; in the 160 MHz bandwidth transmission, theodd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are the first 20 MHz, the third 20 MHz,the fifth and the seventh 20 MHz sub-channels, the even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channels are the second 20 MHz, the fourth 20 MHz, the sixth and theeighth 20 MHz sub-channel.
 11. An apparatus for transmitting a packetstructure in a wireless local area network, comprising: a processor anda non-transitory memory, wherein the memory stores instructions for theprocessor to: construct a packet structure, wherein the packet structurecomprises a High Efficient Signal Field B (HE-SIGB), wherein the HE-SIGBcomprises a first HE-SIGB content which is carried at each odd-numbered20 MHz sub-channel, and a second HE-SIGB content which is carried ateach even-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel; wherein the first HE-SIGB contentcomprises a first common field and a first user specific field; whereinthe first common field comprises one or more first resource allocations(RA), and each of the first RAs indicates one or more resource unitswhich are allocated in one odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel; wherein thefirst user specific field comprises one or more first user schedulinginformation subfields, each of one or more the first user schedulinginformation subfields comprises information of one station (STA),wherein the STA is scheduled on one of the one or more resource unitswhich are indicated by the one or more first RAs; wherein the secondHE-SIGB content comprises a second common field and a second userspecific field; wherein the second common field comprises one or moresecond resource allocations (RA), and each of the second RAs indicatesone or more resource units which are allocated in one even-numbered 20MHz sub-channel; wherein the second user specific field comprises one ormore second user scheduling information subfields, each of the one ormore second user scheduling information subfields comprises informationof one STA, wherein the STA is scheduled on one of the one or moreresource units which are indicated by the one or more second RAs;wherein one of the one or more first RA subfields indicates a specificresource unit and indicates that a number of one or more first userscheduling information subfields is n1; wherein one of the one or moresecond RA indicates the same specific resource unit and indicates that anumber of one or more second user scheduling information subfields isn2; and wherein a number of the STAs scheduled on the same specificresource unit is the sum of n1 and n2; transmit the packet structure.12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the same specificresource unit is a resource unit with a size of 484 subcarriers.
 13. Theapparatus according to claim 11, wherein, n1 comprises one value fromintegers 0 to 8; n2 comprises one value from integers 0 to
 8. 14. Theapparatus according to claim 11, by setting n1 and n2, a number ofsymbols in the HE-SIGB is smallest.
 15. The apparatus according to claim11, wherein a bandwidth for transmitting the packet structure is 40 MHz,80 MHz or 160 MHz, wherein, in the 40 MHz bandwidth transmission, theodd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel is the first 20 MHz channel, theeven-numbered 20 MHz channel is the second 20 MHz channel; in the 80 MHzbandwidth transmission, the odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are thefirst 20 MHz and the third 20 MHz sub-channels, the even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channels are the second 20 MHz and the fourth 20 MHz sub-channel; inthe 160 MHz bandwidth transmission, the odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channelsare the first 20 MHz, the third 20 MHz, the fifth and the seventh 20 MHzsub-channels, the even-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are the second 20MHz, the fourth 20 MHz, the sixth and the eighth 20 MHz sub-channel. 16.An apparatus for receiving a packet structure in a wireless local areanetwork, comprising: a processor and a non-transitory memory, whereinthe memory stores instructions for the processor to: receive a packetstructure, wherein the packet structure comprises a High EfficientSignal Field B (HE-SIGB), wherein the HE-SIGB comprises a first HE-SIGBcontent which is carried at each odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel, and asecond HE-SIGB content which is carried at each even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channel; wherein the first HE-SIGB content comprises a first commonfield and a first user specific field; wherein the first common fieldcomprises one or more first resource unit allocation (RA) subfields, andeach of the first RA subfields indicates one or more resource unitswhich are allocated in one odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel; wherein thefirst user specific field comprises one or more first user schedulinginformation subfields, each of the one or more first user schedulinginformation subfields comprises information of one station (STA),wherein the STA is scheduled on one of the one or more resource unitswhich are indicated by the one or more first RA subfields; wherein thesecond HE-SIGB content comprises a second common field and a second userspecific field; wherein the second common field comprises one or moresecond RA subfields, and each of the second RA subfields indicates oneor more resource units which are allocated in one even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channel; wherein the second user specific field comprises one ormore second user scheduling information subfields, each of the one ormore second user scheduling information subfields comprises informationof one STA, wherein the STA is scheduled on one of the one or moreresource units which are indicated by the one or more second RAsubfields; wherein one of the one or more first RA subfields indicates aspecific resource unit and indicates that a number of one or more firstuser scheduling information subfields is n1; wherein one of the one ormore second RA indicates the same specific resource unit and indicatesthat a number of one or more second user scheduling informationsubfields is n2; and wherein a number of the STAs scheduled on the samespecific resource unit is the sum of n1 and n2; process the packetstructure.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the samespecific resource unit is a resource unit with a size of 484subcarriers.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein n1comprises one value from integers 0 to 8; n2 comprises one value fromintegers 0 to
 8. 19. The apparatus according to claim 16, by setting n1and n2, a number of symbols in the HE-SIGB is smallest.
 20. Theapparatus according to claim 16, wherein a bandwidth for transmittingthe packet structure is 40 MHz, 80 MHz or 160 MHz, wherein, in the 40MHz bandwidth transmission, the odd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channel is thefirst 20 MHz channel, the even-numbered 20 MHz channel is the second 20MHz channel; in the 80 MHz bandwidth transmission, the odd-numbered 20MHz sub-channels are the first 20 MHz and the third 20 MHz sub-channels,the even-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are the second 20 MHz and thefourth 20 MHz sub-channel; in the 160 MHz bandwidth transmission, theodd-numbered 20 MHz sub-channels are the first 20 MHz, the third 20 MHz,the fifth and the seventh 20 MHz sub-channels, the even-numbered 20 MHzsub-channels are the second 20 MHz, the fourth 20 MHz, the sixth and theeighth 20 MHz sub-channel.